Whether you’re looking for innovative, world-class cooking, a romantic date spot, cuisines from around the world, or maybe just a nice, juicy burger, these Covent Garden restaurants will have something to satisfy everyone. No wonder that many of them feature on our list of the best restaurants in London.
1. Clos Maggiore
The cosily flower-filled, mirror-lined dining room at Clos Maggiore makes it one of the most romantic restaurants in London – perfect for a date spot we say! On the menu: fine French cooking, accompanied by an award-winning wine list. Discover more here.
33 King Street.
2. Hawksmoor Seven Dials
This superb steak restaurant is reliably excellent, and the friendly staff here have the knack of making you feel right at home. The fun cocktail menu, with its ‘back burner’ and ‘amaro corretto’, is definitely worth enjoying too. Let’s not forget those juicy steaks, which are sure to satisfy any meat cravings you may have. Find out more about Hawksmoor here.
11 Langley Street.
3. Parsons
A newer entry into the Covent Garden restaurant scene, this little seafood spot has attracted glowing write-ups from critics, with ‘very English’ small plates of fishy genius. The John Dory and oysters at Parsons are pretty much to die for. Trust us.
39 Endell Street.
4. Lima Floral
Head to Lima Floral for a cheeky Peruvian: ultra-colourful dishes with plenty of ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in a tangy citrus broth – it’s a real delicacy. (And don’t miss the purple bread!). A strong contender for one of the best Peruvian restaurants in London we say.
14 Garrick Street.
5. Rules
In a city that dates all the way back to Roman times – yep, seriously – Rules is argued to be the oldest restaurant in London. Expect classic British fare like fish pie, roast lamb and chicken, leek and mushroom pie. They also do a great cocktail list too.
34–35 Maiden Lane.
6. The Ivy
This iconic spot is favoured by all the celebs, and it’s easy to see why. The Ivy is set right in the heart of Covent Garden and gives you the chance to dine on an eclectic mix of British classics – such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips – and other international fare.
1–5 West Street.
7. The Petersham
A newer branch of the celebrated Richmond restaurant, The Petersham draws inspiration from the family home, and this is reflected in the food. Expect hearty dishes – such as roasted pigeon breast with blue cheese, broccoli and leeks or cod with clams and tarragon – all sources using the finest British produce from a farm in Devon.
2 Floral Street.
8. Café Murano
Owned by highly-regarded chef Angela Hartnett, Café Murano is all about ‘true Italian dining’. The Mayfair branch is so good it’s bagged itself a Michelin star, and this one ain’t bad either. The wild mushroom ragu with grilled polenta is pretty much to die for – wash it down with a glass of pinot and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
36 Tavistock Street.
9. Sarastro
Billing itself as ‘the show after the show’, this deliciously OTT restaurant boasts an array of barmy decorations and a flair for the flamboyant. The food ain’t bad either at Sarastro – mezze platters, falafel, and lamb make frequent appearances on the menu, although there’s a healthy number of veggie and vegan options for the meat-averse.
126 Drury Lane.
10. Mariage Frères
The world’s most exclusive purveyor of luxury teas and France’s oldest tea house, Mariage Frères is the place to come if you’re looking for a cuppa or two. It houses the largest tea wall in the world – there are well over 1,000 teas on sale here – and the restaurant whips up brekkie, lunch, afternoon tea and some decadent pastries. Merci beaucoup!
38 King Street.
11. Kebab Queen
For some fab Turkish cuisine, don’t miss a trip to Kebab Queen, where head chef Manu Canales – previously the sous chef at Le Gavroche – rustles up lip-smackingly good dishes like lamb jus ‘doner’ risotto. Read our review here.
4 Mercer Walk.
12. Barrafina Drury Lane
Ever-popular, Barrafina was once named the ‘best restaurant in Britain’ at the National Restaurant Awards, and it’s secured itself a Michelin-star. When you get a taste of Barrafina’s tortilla, you’ll understand why. It’s probably the best pincho you’ll ever eat outside of Spain.
43 Drury Lane.
13. Opera Tavern
Another tapas bar here – though this one rustles up some tasty Italian grub too. Situated right opposite the Drury Lane Theatre, the Opera Tavern is great for pre- or post-theatre fare. Go for the tiger prawns with chilli and garlic or the roasted Jerusalem artichokes with mojo verde or candied walnuts – you won’t regret either.
23 Catherine Street.
14. Cora Pearl
This might just be the best restaurant named after a courtesan. Cora Pearl herself used to live close by, and this spot in a charming townhouse is completely befitting of her glamour. Indulge in elevated British comfort food, cocktails and wines and dream of days gone past.
30 Henrietta Street.
15. Din Tai Fung
If you’re dotty for dumplings, this place will have you reaching for the chopsticks once more. Din Tai Fung is famous for having ‘the best dumplings in the world’. No seriously. They’ve also captured the UK’s coveted Golden ChopSticks Award for the best dumplings in the country for two years running, which is quite the feat.
5 Henrietta Street.
16. Hoa Sen Restaurant
This is the place to come for Vietnamese food if you’re ever knocking about the Covent Garden area. You can’t go wrong with arming bowls of Phở or a tasty bánh mì sandwich, but the staff at Hoa Sen Restaurant also whip up a mean tender pork belly stew.
22 Drury Lane.
17. Ave Mario
This one really deserves its spot on this list of the best Covent Garden restaurants. Inspired by an idyllic day in Florence, the Italian Ave Mario – which only opened last year – rustles up tasty fare like giant Carbonara ravioli, La Gran Scaloppina alla Millanese made with high-welfare rose veal and towering gelato. Sign us up!
15 Henrietta Street.
18. Dishoom
Let’s face it – Dishoom needs no introduction. A must-have addition to this list of the very best Covent Garden restaurants, this beloved spot is one of the places in town to grab some authentic Indian fare. You could enjoy a banging brunch with bacon naan rolls, kejriwal or a big Bombay, elevate your afternoon with a chai and some small plates, or indulge in a delicious dinner and drinks.
12 Upper St Martin’s Lane.
19. Flat Iron
Flat Iron is the perfect answer to “where can I get a decent steak in London without spending my life’s wages?” After all, at this London steakhouse you’ll pay just 12 quid. FOR STEAK. And not even an overcooked may-as-well-have-gone-to-Wetherspoons kind of steak… we’re talking proper meaty if-you-ask-for-well-done-you’re-offending-us kind of steak. Winner, winner.
17–18 Henrietta Street.
20. Warehouse
This 80-seater restaurant first opened its doors in November 2021, and has caused quite a stir ever since. Taking its name from the original Covent Garden fruit and vegetable warehouse – whose origins began here in the 19th century – it’s sustainable members’ club The Conduit’s first public-facing restaurant. As you can imagine, the food at Warehouse is all about sustainability, and head chef Brendan Eades works with carefully-chosen suppliers from the UK who share the same approach and vision. Dishes on offer include cod cheeks with tartare sauce and venison with smoked baby beetroots and salted liquorice. They also rustle up some great cocktails too.
6 Langley Street.
21. Wahaca
If you’re a fan of the classic Mexican flavour, you’re in good hands here. Indulge yourself in Wahaca’s glorious nachos and guac, before moving onto grilled chicken and avocado tacos and Trealy farm chorizo quesadillas. That’s without even mentioning their burritos and enchiladas…
66 Chandos Place.
22. Wagamama
Always a favourite, Wagamama is the place to go for Japanese-fusion food. While everything here is pretty damn good, it’s the chicken katsu curry you really want to go for. Add in a side of edamame beans and an Asahi lager and you’ve got yourself a slap-up meal – and all for around 15 quid! You can even make some of the recipes yourself at home if you’ve got a taste for them!
17 Bedford Street.
23. The Black Penny
This coffee-shop-come-restaurant has been lovingly designed to highlight its gorgeous original features; including exposed brick and wood panelling – making it the perfect environment for a latte and chill time. You should definitely stick around for a spot of brunch, too at The Black Penny – the wild mushroom and polenta mash is particularly good.
34 Great Queen Street.
24. Balthazar
Balthazar serves up traditional French fare in a stunning brasserie that gives an authentic Parisian feel. With an all day menu including brunch and afternoon tea, it’s the kind of spot that’s perfect for any and every occasion.
4-6 Russell Street.
25. Sagar
For delicious curries and spice-infused thalis – all vegan and vegetarian – the place to head is Sagar, which will transport you all the way to southern India in no time. Sounds pretty good to us and a reason we had to include it on this list of the best Covent Garden restaurants.
31 Catherine Street.
26. Shake Shack
If you’re looking for burgers, then you’re pretty spoiled in Covent Garden. Shake Shack started out as a hot dog cart back in 2001, and it’s since exploded in popularity. They’ve got all sorts of burgers here – including veggie and vegan options – and some pretty great sides to boot. Top tip: go for the roasted garlic mayo fries – they’re out of this world.
24 Market Building.
27. Temper
This smokehouse tucked away on a quiet street in Covent Garden does not play when it comes to good food and good meat. Rare-breed steaks, loaded tacos, and smokey mezcal cocktails is what Temper does best. Meat is butchered and prepared in house, and is cooked to smokey perfection in the open kitchen slap bang in the middle of the restaurant for your viewing pleasure. Temper is always a good idea.
5 Mercer Walk.
28. Sushisamba
Atop Covent Garden’s piazza sits Sushisamba, one of Covent Garden’s prettiest restaurants serving up delicious food that blends Brazilian, Japanese, and Peruvian cuisines. This blending of cuisines creates a pretty unique menu that has something for everyone. Their drinks are definitely not to be missed as they’ve got some banging cocktails and an impressive selection of sake.
35 The Market.
29. Honest Burger
Anyone who’s a fan of a burger has heard about Honest Burger. All the burgers here are banging, but if you’re looking for something really special, go for the Tribute – a juicy concoction of beef, bacon, American cheese, burger sauce, French’s mustard, pickles, onion and lettuce with homemade rosemary salted chips. They’ve also got plenty of veggie options. Are you salivating yet?
33 Southampton Street.
30. Joe Allen’s
Rounding off this list of the very best Covent Garden restaurants is Joe Allen’s – an authentic and atmospheric New York-style brasserie that whips up epic hot dogs, smoked baby back ribs and their signature poached eggs Hemingway. Think toasted muffin, sautéed potatoes, smoked salmon, spinach and dollops of hollandaise sauce. If that doesn’t set you up for the day, we don’t know what will!
2 Burleigh Street.
Also published on Medium.